Chapter 6

Bracing myself, I looked up and met Qingyan’s conflicted gaze.

There was an apology in it, and a plea.

I was not altogether pleased at being put on the spot before all these people.

Qingyan had the Grand Secretary behind her. Even the duke’s heir had to think twice where she was concerned.

I was only an ordinary woman, with neither power nor influence.

I had given her hints and evidence and helped steer the conversation, all within my limited means.

That was as much as I could do.

I couldn’t afford to offend Duke Zhenguo’s household, much less confront his heir directly.

After a long silence, I finally rose to my feet.

Well, I was here now.

I distinctly saw Qingyan release the faintest breath of relief.

She pointed at the tray. “Mistress, did you sell these to me?”

Under his murderous stare, I nodded. “Yes.”

“What does that prove? It’s a coincidence! How was I to know she’d start giving away the jewelry I bought for you?”

He was still denying it, his eyes full of threats.

But it had come to this. I took a deep breath and threw caution to the wind. “The plain jade pin goes with the hibiscus pin, and the silver earrings go with the pink gemstone earrings. I paired them all in advance. I sold them that way to Miss Mu, and I sold them that way to you, my lord.”

“I did not give away full-price pieces as you suggest. It isn’t easy running a small shop. Please don’t ruin my good name, my lord.”

With both witness and evidence against him, he went red in the face, unable to produce another denial.

“Lu Chong’an.” Qingyan stared at him, her eyes slightly red.

“I never cared whether the jewelry was cheap or expensive. I wore it every day because I valued the bond between us.”

“But you cannot—”

“Trample on my feelings while treating another girl as your most precious treasure!”

He wore an expression of utter helplessness, as though none of this were his fault.

“Xianghe lost her father young. She grew up with no one to care for her. As her older cousin, of course I should show her more tenderness.”

“You’re different. You’ve had fine clothes and fine food since birth, and everyone dotes on you. What harm could it do you to go without this tiny measure of extra affection from me?”

The lady who had been gossiping with me could bear it no longer. She called out sharply,

“Enough! We all have daughters. I cannot sit here and watch Qingyan suffer this humiliation! If your heart belongs to someone else, why waste her time?”

Someone immediately joined in. “When Qingyan came of age at fifteen, so many people came to propose a match that they nearly wore through the Mu family’s threshold. If you don’t appreciate her, end the betrothal. The capital’s finest young men are still waiting in line.”

“And isn’t Duke Zhenguo’s legitimate daughter nearly fifteen herself? Who would dare marry into a family with such disgraceful conduct?”

The duchess had kept her head down. At that, she swayed sharply, and a venomous resentment entered her eyes as she looked at Xianghe.

Qingyan had drawn in all her emotions and regained her usual composure.

“Lord Lu, since I can so easily do without your little extra affection, I can just as easily do without you.”

“This betrothal is over.”

Before he could speak, the duchess’s expression changed drastically and she cried out,

“No!”

“Qingyan, Chong’an has only been foolish for a moment. There is nothing improper between him and Xianghe. It is not what you imagine!”

“I’ll send Xianghe back to my family tonight. I promise she will never appear before you again.”

Qingyan merely shook her head. Her upbringing would not allow her to speak harshly to an elder.

Anyone could see that the duchess had spoiled her son.

Even with everyone condemning him, even when his behavior was harming her own daughter’s prospects, she still saw no fault in him. She laid all the blame on Xianghe.

Marry into a family like that, and there would be no end to the grievances ahead.

“Ahem.” A light cough sounded.

The Grand Secretary came slowly down from the dais and addressed the duchess gravely.

“Please return tomorrow, Your Grace, so we may exchange the children’s betrothal papers and take back our own.”

No explanation, no polite preliminaries. He announced the decision coldly, leaving no room for negotiation.

Only after a long while did the duchess answer hoarsely, “Very well. We shall take our leave and trouble you no further.”

“Wait!”

Qingyan spoke suddenly.

The heir stopped and turned, his eyes brightening.

She thrust all the ornaments she had taken off into his hands.

“Take these with you.”

“From now on, neither of us owes the other anything.”